Opening Day Spring Gobbler

     Took my dad out on opening morning where I had been hearing a few birds.  After an uneventful set up on a bird that never gobbled or even acted like it was spring, we connected on this bird 15 minutes later.  This Jake came in on a rope with a buddy and they both were in full strut at 10 yards before Dad took the shot.  Congratulations to dad on only his second ever spring bird.

Spring Gobbler 2012

     Last year I was spoiled and took a bird on the first day of the season.  This year I had to work my but off for an entire four days.  That is still a pretty short amount of time.  I have gone many seasons without even coming close to a shot.  I feel very fortunate to have had this quick success these last two years.  With another tag in my pocked, I will continue to hunt out the season trying to take another bird.  But even if I don't, It will still be fun being out there!

Top Of The Hit List

       Finally....I found what I knew was a good spot and had some evidence of a good buck working the area.  I was definitely not disappointed when I checked the camera today.  This heavy 8-point is going to make a great addition to my bragging wall!!  I hope.  I like the way his main beams blade out at the tips.  I guess he was trying his hardest to be a 10-point.  He still looks good enough to me!

No More Velvet

    Less than a month away and the bucks have just lost their velvet in the last week.  I have even had some pics of one working a scrape.  This is supposed to be the coldest week that we have had since the spring.  Can't wait to see what shows up on the cameras afterwards.

Last Years Archery Buck

Finally got my buck back from the taxidermy man.  If anyone is looking for a good taxidermist, I recommend Dan Bishop in Duke Center, PA.  He is as cheap as you will find anywhere and does excellent work.  Hopefully I will have another buck to take to him this fall.

Opening Day of Pennsylvania Spring Gobbler

If I have learned anything about hunting big woods turkeys it is that once you think you have them patterned THINK AGAIN!  I really thought that I was going to be set up right in the birds bedroom this morning.  I even got there an extra half an hour early to prevent from spooking one out of the roost.  After sitting in the dark with forty minutes of anticipation behind me, no birds were gobbling.  Then I hear a faint gobble in the distance.  Upon inspection I realized that it was coming from the original spot that I wanted to hunt on opening day this year, but after scouting and not seeing any sign or hearing any birds I decided that I would hunt the far side of the valley that been home to birds all this spring and last.  Now I had a decision to make.  Did I really want to hike all the way back down one hillside, cross a stream with high cold water, and hike straight up the cliff on the far side?  The answer to that question is shown in the pictures above.  After making the long hike and my heart practically beating out of my chest, I caught up to the bird still gobbling.  I set up my decoy, got hidden, and made a few soft yelps.  Shortly after I saw the bird come around  the corner of the point in full strut.  A few seconds later he was joined by two jakes and all three began to run towards me after spotting the decoy.  They stopped at about 40 yards as the long beard went into full strut again.  They then advanced another 15 yards before I could finally get a shot at the Tom that would not result in me putting three birds on the ground.  The jakes finally moved off to either side and i split the uprights with 3 inches of #5 Hevi Shot!  It turned out to be the most intense easy hunt ever!!!  My only regret is that everything is so wet from the 40 days and 40 nights of rain that we have had made the bird not very photogenic.